Darcy's eyes flicked between the phone screen, Kand-Lei's eyes and his lips, and then back again several times before his brain processed the words on the screen.
A kiss doesn't have to be romantic! His mind tried to reason with the part of him, somewhere close to his heart he reckoned, that absolutely wanted it to be romantic.
He hastily turned the phone over, face bright red.
"Told you there were some pretty crazy ones." He mumbled softly, now resolutely avoiding eye contact.
When Kand-Lei didn't say anything for a while Darcy finally met his eyes again.
His face was flushed, but in his eyes was a subtle fear that had nothing to do with the current situation.
Darcy grabbed his hand, expression suddenly turning serious.
"Kand-Lei. I'm not going to kiss you." He stared into his eyes, allowing the sincerity in his expression to speak for itself. When he saw a flicker of confusion he added, "I won't do something that you don't want me to." Darcy smiled a little, "If you ever change your mind, let me know." He winked playfully.
Darcy watched as a grin cracked through the shocked expression.
"Sure, I'll let you know. When I change my mind." Kand-Lei flipped the phone back over. "But… a dare is a dare." He held out his hand. "It's a little unconventional to do this when we have not separated, but, greet me."
Darcy blinked at his hand, then at Kand-Lei who was waiting expectantly. He reached out and awkwardly shook his hand, still confused, he wondered if he should say something as well.
Kand-Lei blinked. "Ah! No no," he laughed, "Sorry, I should have been more specific. In the way that we greet in my country."
Darcy suddenly remembered the greeting Kand-Lei had given him instead of a handshake.
"Oh… yeah that makes more sense." Darcy chuckled, feeling a little foolish.
He leaned down and kissed the tips of Kand-Lei's fingers.
Even though he knew it was just a greeting, something he had done thousands of times before, it felt strangely different when Darcy did it. Less like a practiced motion, more… meaningful.
"That's probably enough truth or dare right?"
Kand-Lei nodded vigorously. "Certainly." He was not about to repeat Darcy's mistake and land himself in a similarly awkward position.
They played a few different games to pass the time, Darcy's talent lay with connect four and uno, Kand-Lei's with twenty questions and battleships.
When they finally noticed the time it was only because the delivery girl had come with their clothes.
It was very late in the afternoon and they hadn't even thought about lunch.
After changing into fresh clothes for the first time in two days, they ordered room service for a late lunch early dinner.
The late afternoon sun spilling across the floor through the large city view window, casting a warm glow over everything and creating a lazy atmosphere.
After an hour or so of idle chatter the fear and exhaustion from the chaotic day finally caught up to them. Both decided to turn in for an early night.
Because it was nearing the winter solstice the days were becoming increasingly short, by the time they decided to go to sleep it was already dark out. Another snowstorm had settled over the city and bestowing a chill deep to the winter air.
The awkwardness of sharing a bed had already worn off during the day and both fell asleep quite comfortably, much closer together than the other night. Both of them wearing the cozy pyjamas that Darcy had the sense to buy along with the other clothes.
Despite the chaos of the day the atmosphere was peaceful. Harmonious. More comfortable than it had any right to be.
…
Both of them slept soundly until around midnight.
By this time the snowstorm had died down, cold wind was no longer incessantly pushing at the window or balcony door. There was a kind of unnatural seeming stillness in the room. It was silent and dark as snowflakes lazily drifted past the window.
Then a soft whimper broke the quiet.
A rustle that betrayed restless sleep.
Then a low, pained groan as Kand-Lei tossed in the bed, deep within the grips of a nightmare.
His face was scrunched up, neat brows furrowed, lips trembling and occasionally pulling back to bare teeth. He gripped the blanket, seeming to fight against something, covered in sweat. He let out several more groans and whimpers before Darcy's arm stopped him from moving.
Darcy wasn't entirely awake, he had just unconsciously sensed that something was going on and had tried his best to ground the person next to him. Reacting purely on instinct.
When Kand-Lei felt the weight and scent of Darcy's arm he stilled for a moment, relaxed a tiny bit before his eyes flew open.
His head whipped around, scanning the room in a panicked daze as he tore off the covers and Darcy's arm along with them. He let out a low strangled noise as he scratched at his throat, running towards the balcony as best he could, tripping on the discarded blanket but catching himself before he fell.
There was only one thought in his mind at that moment.
He's here. Run.